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His books can't be that bad. I remember the youth retreat @ Holy Cross (Cross Roads) gave us printed material and some of it was Fr. Matthew's guide to interpreting the scriptures. It was actually interesting.

Which books/articles by Fr. Matta are the ones that are attacked/controversial?

Also, what are the charges brought up against Fr. Matta?

What books/articles have been written against Fr. Matta?

Is there a way where I can get any of those books?

God bless.

Mina

It was mostly the book on prayer, "The ORthodox Prayer Life" that got recent attention ;because of him quoting mostly non Coptic saints. ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š Some of which are a little controversial, like St. Isaac of The Syrian. ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š And critisized because he's looked up as a Coptic example of spirituality but he teaching lots of stuff outside the Coptic Church (based heavily in EO and Catholicism as far as the saints quoted and discussed). Although I think there are Egyptain/Arabic books that were also controversial.

He mostly is in "the dog house". ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š Because of publically critisizing Pope Shenouda back in the days, when he was arrested back when Anwar Sadat first came to power. ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š Pope Shenouda was critisized by him, during his few years in prison; because of some of the massive reforms he was brining to the Church. ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š Fr. Matta believed he was relying more on programs than on prayer and other traditional methods.

There was/is a good "Chrisitanity Today" article that came out on the subject of Both Pope Shenouda and Fr. Matta. ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š It came out around 2000. ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š I had trouble finding it, but if your scour the internet and take your time I bet you can find it. ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š It talks about the different kinds of Renewal both people were working to bring the Coptic Church.

Which books/articles by Fr. Matta are the ones that are attacked/controversial?Also, what are the charges brought up against Fr. Matta?

You can start with the list I gave you in the topic "Why do we sin" in the "Free-for-all" forum until I come up with a translation of a list of Matta's errors in all his books. They are numerous, so please be patient.

As for charges of misconduct and attacks against the Church, one has to consider his whole "career" as a monk to come up with a conclusive answer. You would have to examine the position of St. Macarius monastery in the Coptic Church after Chalcedon and the burning of the Alexandria library and school of Theology upon the arabic conquest,and how this great monastery has been transformed under the spiritual guidance of Matta El-Maskeen. You can visit the monastery and come up with your own assessment after you see the huge industrial advancements at this monastery and get an idea of the monks' routine, and compare it to other monasteries. Matta's life becomes very interestings if you consider his relation to President Saddat before and after 1981, his defeat at Papal elections twice, him being offered the Papal position by Saddat after the lawful Pope, H.H. Shenouda III was imprisoned in his own monastery, and how the synod refused such consecration and only to see them persecuted by Saddat, who wanted to go with the plan to split the Church anyways but got stopped because Khaled El-islambuli and Atta Tael assassinated the man, splitting him in two from the waist. If you consider the book " Church and Social service", in which he accused the Church of conspiracy and treason and caused the imprisonment of a popular Bishop, Samuel the Martyr, in Nasser's regime, together with the above, you will understand why Copts in Egypt have little respect for the man, and why his majority of vocal fans is in the diaspora.

We usually come up with totally different views, so you are on your own in studying Matta's life so you can come up with your own conclusions.

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What books/articles have been written against Fr. Matta?

Articles by H.H. in El-Kerazah magazine and seven books published against the heresies of Matthew the Poor. Will prepare a list of them later.

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Is there a way where I can get any of those books?

I am not sure how far the translation of Matta's books into English have progressed. As for arabic books, you can always find them at the monastery of St. Macarius at Wadi El-Natron in Egypt and the last time I checked they were available in an independent bookstore called El- Ma7abah. It is one of the biggest christian bookstore in Egypt.

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In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. (Isaiah 19:19)

" God forbid I should see the face of Judah or listen to his blasphemy" (Gerontius, Archmanidrite of the monastery of St. Melania)

Regardless of how correct (and of that I don't pressume to know anything about an internal matter for Coptic Church) you are, simply spamming several treads with links doesn't lend much credibility to your position. Why not stick around and actually join the discussion?

Welcome to the board, Arbible! It is always nice to get a new member, especially one who is interested in matters concerning the Oriental Orthodox! While your links are very interesting, you may want to get involved in some of our discussions. I am sure you have much insight to give.

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die [...] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -The Lord Jesus Christ

No longer active on OC.net. Please pray for me and forgive any harm I might have caused by my ignorance and malice.

Usually when I say "--Bump--" it is for good reasons and not for meaningless purposes. I guess I just wanted find out more perspectives on Fr. Matta's person, the current views of the Coptic hierarchy on him and his writings, his status within the Church before his repose, and online resources where I could read from him and about him. Also, is it true he taught we ate the Divine ousia in the Eucharist, or was he simply referring to the uncreated grace of God?

+May Fr. Matta's prayers be with us all

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"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die [...] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -The Lord Jesus Christ

No longer active on OC.net. Please pray for me and forgive any harm I might have caused by my ignorance and malice.

Usually when I say "--Bump--" it is for good reasons and not for meaningless purposes. I guess I just wanted find out more perspectives on Fr. Matta's person, the current views of the Coptic hierarchy on him and his writings, his status within the Church before his repose, and online resources where I could read from him and about him. Also, is it true he taught we ate the Divine ousia in the Eucharist, or was he simply referring to the uncreated grace of God?

+May Fr. Matta's prayers be with us all

Also, it is important to note that Stavro no longer holds the views he did regarding Fr. Matta. He no longer believes he is a heretic and he said that Fr. Matta's view of Theosis reflected that of Saint Athanasius.

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"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die [...] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -The Lord Jesus Christ

No longer active on OC.net. Please pray for me and forgive any harm I might have caused by my ignorance and malice.

Here is a video where he is interviewed. Actually the video is in french, but there is some bits in english (though the french commentator translates over it, it is still possible to understand I think).

Usually when I say "--Bump--" it is for good reasons and not for meaningless purposes. I guess I just wanted find out more perspectives on Fr. Matta's person, the current views of the Coptic hierarchy on him and his writings, his status within the Church before his repose, and online resources where I could read from him and about him. Also, is it true he taught we ate the Divine ousia in the Eucharist, or was he simply referring to the uncreated grace of God?

+May Fr. Matta's prayers be with us all

Also, it is important to note that Stavro no longer holds the views he did regarding Fr. Matta. He no longer believes he is a heretic and he said that Fr. Matta's view of Theosis reflected that of Saint Athanasius.

True. I spoke six years ago out of ignorance regarding Father Matta's theology and teachings, without reading the fullness of his spiritual production.

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In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. (Isaiah 19:19)

" God forbid I should see the face of Judah or listen to his blasphemy" (Gerontius, Archmanidrite of the monastery of St. Melania)

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die [...] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -The Lord Jesus Christ

No longer active on OC.net. Please pray for me and forgive any harm I might have caused by my ignorance and malice.

Ya exactly! I meant the comment seriously btw, i dont know if the smiley "" made it seem like i was being sarcastic... oops. But i legit meant it, it takes alot of courage to stand up and say one was wrong, something we could all benefit from.

Ya exactly! I meant the comment seriously btw, i dont know if the smiley "" made it seem like i was being sarcastic... oops. But i legit meant it, it takes alot of courage to stand up and say one was wrong, something we could all benefit from.

so i will conclude with this smiley this time

I know what you mean. If we had more people like him.

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"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die [...] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -The Lord Jesus Christ

No longer active on OC.net. Please pray for me and forgive any harm I might have caused by my ignorance and malice.

Abouna Matta is a light in the darkness. An Orthodox Monk in the midst of pseudo-evangelical clergy.

He is one of the most profound writers in the Coptic church. In fact, he, along with HH Pope Kyrollos are my pride of being Coptic.

His theology is sound, his spirituality is free from political mumbo-jumbo, his guidance is deep, and his mind is understanding. Those who work in the darkness, as our Lord says, hate the light. So when a man comes around as a candle, they fight vigorously to try to extinguish.

He is in heaven right now, interceding for the stability of the Orthodox faithful, and the return of the pseudo-evangelical. Those who oppose the truth, calling it heresy, are heretics themselves.

I agree wholeheartedly. After years of hearing (pretty much all a bunch of made up mumbo jumbo) about Fr. Matta's "heretical opinions" and his "false teachings" and whatnot, i finally got a chance to read his works. And upon reading Fr. Matta's works, i was astonished at his theological profundity and would definitely class him the upper echelon of theologians and spiritual people the Coptic Orthodox has produced in this day and age. Fr. Matta's book, Orthodox prayer life, blew me away.

There is a story circulating, whether it is true or not, that a certain old monk who is known to be an accurate profit saw the Virgin and Abouna Matta meeting H.H. Pope Shenouda III and taking H.H. to Paradise when H.H. departed.

We can be sure that both Matta el-Meskeen and His Holiness Pope Shenouda now see all things clearly and without any confusion whatsoever in a blessed place where there is no misunderstanding or misrepresentation.

There is a story circulating, whether it is true or not, that a certain old monk who is known to be an accurate profit saw the Virgin and Abouna Matta meeting H.H. Pope Shenouda III and taking H.H. to Paradise when H.H. departed.

Would this certain old monk be Father Angelos El-Antony?

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In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. (Isaiah 19:19)

" God forbid I should see the face of Judah or listen to his blasphemy" (Gerontius, Archmanidrite of the monastery of St. Melania)

There is a story circulating, whether it is true or not, that a certain old monk who is known to be an accurate profit saw the Virgin and Abouna Matta meeting H.H. Pope Shenouda III and taking H.H. to Paradise when H.H. departed.

Would this certain old monk be Father Angelos El-Antony?

Logged

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die [...] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -The Lord Jesus Christ

No longer active on OC.net. Please pray for me and forgive any harm I might have caused by my ignorance and malice.

There is a story circulating, whether it is true or not, that a certain old monk who is known to be an accurate profit saw the Virgin and Abouna Matta meeting H.H. Pope Shenouda III and taking H.H. to Paradise when H.H. departed.

Would this certain old monk be Father Angelos El-Antony?

"Arise, take up thy thread, and talk"

^That one's an original

Can someone answer that last question?

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"I see the heavens opened up, and the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God"-St. Stephen the Archdeacon and Protomartyr

There is a story circulating, whether it is true or not, that a certain old monk who is known to be an accurate profit saw the Virgin and Abouna Matta meeting H.H. Pope Shenouda III and taking H.H. to Paradise when H.H. departed.

Would this certain old monk be Father Angelos El-Antony?

"Arise, take up thy thread, and talk"

^That one's an original

Can someone answer that last question?

Logged

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die [...] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -The Lord Jesus Christ

No longer active on OC.net. Please pray for me and forgive any harm I might have caused by my ignorance and malice.